Last Modified: Friday, November 30, 2007 at 11:00 p.m.

Gadsden Fire Department Fire Marshal Dan Westcott works Friday to determine the cause of a fatal fire on Bonton Avenue.

Gadsden Times | Marc Golden

Etowah County Deputy Coroner Chris Thacker and Gadsden Fire Marshal Dan Westcott said they believe the remains of a body found near the back door of 1103 Bonton St. in the Green Pastures subdivision are those of Lawrence Brown, 43.

The fire was reported at 9:24 p.m.

A family member said Brown had been at another residence watching a game less than an hour before the fire was reported.

Thacker said they are "99 percent sure" the body is Brown's, but they are waiting for forensics for formal identification.

Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze fairly quickly and, upon searching the house, found the victim.

Westcott, who was investigating the cause of the fire Friday morning, said there was no electricity or natural gas service to the house.

The cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be a heater in the room where the blaze originated.

"Everything's tentative at this point," Westcott said. "We're assuming the kerosene space heater had something to do with it."

He said Brown could have been trying to refuel the heater and may have spilled some of the fuel, which then ignited.

Westcott said the body was found at the back door in the same room as the heater, which was about 15 feet away.

"He was right at the door," Westcott said. "If he was trying to escape the fire he almost made it out the door."

This is the second fire fatality in Gadsden this year.

When temperatures drop, Westcott said, there usually is an increase in house fires because of equipment malfunctioning or equipment being used improperly.

He said people should use caution with heating equipment they are unfamiliar with or if equipment has not been used in some time. He advised checking equipment before use and leaving plenty of space around heaters.

<p>Authorities are awaiting forensics results, but a fire Thursday night on Bonton Street is believed to have claimed the life of a Gadsden man.</p><p>Etowah County Deputy Coroner Chris Thacker and Gadsden Fire Marshal Dan Westcott said they believe the remains of a body found near the back door of 1103 Bonton St. in the Green Pastures subdivision are those of Lawrence Brown, 43.</p><p>The fire was reported at 9:24 p.m.</p><p>A family member said Brown had been at another residence watching a game less than an hour before the fire was reported.</p><p>Thacker said they are "99 percent sure" the body is Brown's, but they are waiting for forensics for formal identification.</p><p>Firefighters were able to knock down the blaze fairly quickly and, upon searching the house, found the victim.</p><p>Westcott, who was investigating the cause of the fire Friday morning, said there was no electricity or natural gas service to the house.</p><p>The cause of the fire is under investigation but is believed to be a heater in the room where the blaze originated.</p><p>"Everything's tentative at this point," Westcott said. "We're assuming the kerosene space heater had something to do with it."</p><p>He said Brown could have been trying to refuel the heater and may have spilled some of the fuel, which then ignited.</p><p>Westcott said the body was found at the back door in the same room as the heater, which was about 15 feet away.</p><p>"He was right at the door," Westcott said. "If he was trying to escape the fire he almost made it out the door."</p><p>This is the second fire fatality in Gadsden this year.</p><p>When temperatures drop, Westcott said, there usually is an increase in house fires because of equipment malfunctioning or equipment being used improperly.</p><p>He said people should use caution with heating equipment they are unfamiliar with or if equipment has not been used in some time. He advised checking equipment before use and leaving plenty of space around heaters.</p><p>Residents also are encouraged to install smoke detectors.</p><p>"You can never get enough of those," Westcott said.</p>